FLAGS AND SIGNALS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19094, 12 August 1925, Page 15

FLAGS AND SIGNALS.

SHIPS OF THE ADMIRALS

SIGNIFICANCE OF EMBLEMS. In all navies much importance is attached to flags and signals, and every pennant showing on a ship speaks its silent language. The presence of Admiral Robison on his flagship, the' California, is denoted by a blue flag with four white stars shown at the mainmast. Vice-Admiral Wiley's battleship, the West Virginia, is flying a bjue (lag wi h three stars, and the New Mexico, Rear-Admiial MacDougall's vessel, has a similar emblem with two stars. All the ships 3y the national ensign, the Stars and Stripes, at the mainmast staihoaid yardarm .when, under way and at the stern flagstaff while at anchor. These are the only two flags shown at sea and in port also, an admiral's em blem being flown continuously, and the ensign only between 8 a.m. and sunset While the flagship was returning the salute yesterday the White Ensign of Britain was fluttering at the foremast-. During thp time the fleet-is in port the American Union Jack," comprising 48 white stars on a blue field, will be displayed from the forward flagstaff. Each star represents one of the United States. If a commander is away from his ship the absentee pennant -with red, white and blue stripes, is Sown at the port yardarm.